Chicken Pox is a contagious viral illness that spreads via droplet infection (talking, coughing, sneezing) and through contact with the pustular spots. It chiefly affects children under ten and can also be caught from someone with Shingles, which is caused by the same virus. The incubation period is 14-21 days. First symptoms include headache, fever and malaise. The lymph glands might also be swollen. Chicken Pox becomes contagious once the spots appear and remains so until all the blisters have dried up. The spots come in crops, every 3-4 days, appearing first on the trunk and then the face and limbs. The scalp, ears, soles of the feet can all be affected, as can the insides of the mouth, throat, anus and vagina. The spots turn into oval-shaped, fluid-filled blisters within 24 hours and dry up in a few days. They can be very itchy and every effort should be made to discourage scratching to reduce the risk of secondary infection and scarring. All the spots should dry up and the scabs fall off in 10 days. The amino acid arginine is needed for the virus to replicate; foods that contain high levels of arginine, and which should therefore be avoided, are chocolate, carob, coconut, oats, wholewheat and white flour, peanuts, soyabeans and wheatgerm. Seek professional advice if spots develop on the eyeball, if your child is on steroids or has poor immunity, or if there is vomiting, headache or malaise after the spots have healed.
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